Rail

Italy's main train operator, the state-owned Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane, has announced from April they will begin operating 'COVID-free' train services, including to Italy's main tourist destinations, in time for the Summer season. As part of this initiative, passengers will have to arrive at the station an hour ahead of departure, before being subject to testing for COVID-19 prior to boarding - with train crew also undergoing the same procedure.

London's Luton Airport has welcomed the news that rail operator East Midlands Railway (EMR) is set to introduce a new half hourly non-stop service between London St Pancras and Luton Airport Parkway, the station serving the airport. The new service will be introduced as part of the May 2021 timetable change and is the first significant step towards a separately-branded ‘Luton Airport Express’ service. The service will operate using electric trains and run every 30 minutes between 06.00 and 22.00 (local time) daily, with additional late night and early morning services to serve departures from the airport.

The country's government has announced that from 14 February it will restrict the number of passengers permitted to travel domestically on long-distance trains and buses, in an effort to a curb a rise in infections from COVID-19 variants. Capacity will be limited to 50% if the journey is longer than 150 kilometres, and the measure will be in place until at least the end of May. Exceptions will be made for people who have already bought tickets.

The United States Transport Security Administration (TSA) has announced that passengers in the U.S. can now be fined for refusing to wear face masks during transit to limit the transmission of COVID-19; passengers will be fine between $250 and $1500 (USD) if in breach of these new measures on aircraft and other forms of public transportation such as trains and buses. Exempted from the requirement are children under two years old and people with a disability or medical exemption. The mask mandate is effective until at least 11 May.

The cross-channel rail provider has announced that customers can get a COVID-19 PCR test at London's St. Pancras International; the test costs £149 with results available the next day between 17.00 and 23.59 (local time), and passengers should book their test in advance but no more than 72 hours prior to departure. Although the testing initiative is in partnership with Eurostar, it is being operated by London Medical Laboratory - a third party provider.